A playground for Children Services opened Thursday
Equipment includes slides, swings and picnic tables
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Despite the rain, a new state-funded playground opened Thursday beside the Washington County Children Services offices in Marietta.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 204 Davis Ave., Alice Stewart, Children Services supervisor, said the equipment cost about $89,000.
"So, this playground is, really exciting," she told those assembled for the ceremony. "For many years I have talked about my desire for an outdoor play area."
Families now have visitations in 10-by-10 or 12-by-12-feet rooms which have no windows.
"It's just not great. I mean they do the best they can, but it's not wonderful," Stewart said. "So it's so much better for larger families to be able to go out."
She explained the playground will be a wonderful outlet for energetic kids. The problems with doing this project earlier were staff and money restraints. In 2020, they were able to secure state funding to make the idea come to fruition, she said.
"We are definitely looking forward to better weather when we can have activities for foster families to come have a cookout, play on the playground, and definitely getting our visitation staff out there with kids as much as possible so they can enjoy the playground," Stewart explained.
County Commissioner Charlie Schilling and his family are familiar with visiting children in those cooped up rooms. He and his wife Karri have adopted two children, ages 6 and 4.
"Children Services in Washington County is a very important part of my wife's and in my life," he recalled. "I think we spent six years, from 2012 to 2018, as licensed foster parents, and we were blessed to adopt two little children from right here in Washington County.
"This playground is phenomenal," he noted. "This is very, very nice and it's going to do a lot for when it comes to the children's interaction with their family."
Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.